WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 4 JANUARY 25, 2013

Free Republic | Jan 25, 2013 | greeneyes

[who knows what evil?]

Peppers can be cranky...my Naga Morich took nearly three weeks even on a heated surface. It damn near got replaced...threats help on occasion.

[JRandomFreeper]

I forgot to mention that I'm trying to start coffee seeds this year. I give it a 20% chance of success, and if I do manage to start one, it will be a house plant, but I wanted to try it.

/johnny

[Ellendra]

What site are you planning on getting your seed corn?
This one: http://www.caroldeppe.com/

In one of her books she describes a flour corn she developed, called Magic Manna. Each ear is a solid color, but the variety has several colors that the ear could be, and each color has a different flavor. So, for example, the red ones taste best either parched or in a sweet bread, while the brown ones make a good savory bread or a brown gravy.

If I can't get that one, I'm thinking of ordering Mandan Red from Seeds of Change. It's supposed to be a good parching and sweet bread corn.

[bgill]

Where I got the onions, I asked if they had any jalapeno seeds. The guy looked like I had three heads because he’d never sold any and never heard of anyone ever growing them from seed.....

[painter]

I see you are from Texas. How is the rain situation for you guys?

[painter]

Hey stranger. Welcome back. :o) Haven’t seen you for awhile.

[JRandomFreeper]

It's not too bad right now. We had some rain a couple of weeks ago, and my rain barrel is only down to about 80%. I use the rainwater for all the seedlings and the garden.

We've got a 40% chance of rain on Tuesday (yeah, right).

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

I've rarely ever bought jalapeno plants. I'm not paying $2US for something that I can start so easy.

But this year is starting off with a stubbed toe on the pepper front. My NM chili seeds haven't proofed yet, and I lost the first attempt of the jalapenos.

I do save seeds after careful selection, and have for years, especially for my peppers.

These jalapenos start off very mild, and by the end of the season, they are VERY spicy. That's the reason I kept propogating them. I could can mild and spicy from the same plant, based on where I picked them during the season.

/johnny

[greeneyes]

You’ve got a good start. I know what you mean about green and the cold. That’s one reason I like growing winter wheat. It looks so good to look out on a cold sunny day and see green.

[greeneyes]

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

[greeneyes]

Good luck with that. I have been contemplating doing the same. Although it’s my understanding you don’t get a lot of product from a tree though.

I figured I could always stretch it with chicory root though.

[JRandomFreeper]

I don't expect a lot of product, just want the ability to say "Oh yeah, I grew coffee in Texas". ;)

I've got lots of green coffee beans, since I buy yearly and roast my own. Nothing beats what they grow in Costa Rica.

/johnny

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks! Glad I have a little more time to pop in once in a while. Lots going on in my life! Got promoted at work, so I now manage the entire Garden Center, from the first Pansy in the Spring, until the last (bloody!) Christmas Tree is sold, it’s mine, all mine, LOL!

Shameless Plug: http://www.jungseed.com

Fell in love, or lust, or something like that. ;) Been dating Mr. Wonderful (and his 160 acres, LOL!) for close to two years now. Old family friend who I never gave a second look at...until he started looking at ME that way. *Blush*

Taking care of my elderly Dad. Nothing really wrong with him that a good, swift kick in the @ss by a WIFE wouldn’t cure, but he’s no longer got one, and he’s not happy about fending for himself, so he doesn’t take good care of himself, depression issues, etc. I have help in the form of a housekeeper and a visiting nurse 2x a week, but it’s all going to go downhill from here, I fear. *SIGH*

Selling books on Amazon.com, which I still find to be a lot of fun!

Shameless plug: http://www.amazon.com/shops/brandywinefarmbooks

So, I still garden as much as I can and still raise laying hens and am thinking about Angora Rabbits for the fur, or a few sheep for the wool.

In my SPARE time, of course! *SMIRK*

I just need a lot of money so I can stay home on the farm every day, as I did in The Olden Days, LOL!

[Ciexyz]

Horrible week for weather in western PA. Sub-zero wind chills earlier this week and today, fourteen degrees and four inches of snow. Kohl plants outside are holding on.

[murrie]

Could you share any helpful hints on canning your jalapeños? Any special tricks? I read somewhere that peppers can taste bitter after processing. Have you ever had this problem?

[JRandomFreeper]

I do raw pack, follow the directions from Texas A&M for those I actually can.

For those I'll use in the upcoming year until the next harvest, I just stovetop pickle them with salt, vinegar, sliced, PEELED, carrots, a few cloves of garlic, and a brief boil to bring the outside to 140F for about 8 minutes. I then store them in the fridge.

I haven't died yet.

/johnny

[murrie]

Thank you! I’ll give it a try this year. We always end up with so many peppers and not enough freezer space.

[JRandomFreeper]

I eat a lot of peppers. If I don't have 4 quarts of pickled peppers in the fridge at the end of the season, I'm going to run out before next harvest.

I'm down to about a pint right now. I used up all the canned ones from 2011 last year.

I'm running a pepper deficeit again this year. I hope to repair that in the upcoming season.

Peppers are high in Vit. C. They are my main source, along with tomatoes.

/johnny

[murrie]

Yes-peppers are great. I like the simple chili peppers for Mexican dishes. Yum! What type of tomatoes do you grow? I’m in Nashville tn-zone 6b to 7. I have had some luck growing an heirloom called “ mortgage lifter”. Not a particularly pretty tomato but good for canning. However the past few years , despite crop rotation and such we are really fighting tomato diseases and blight and birds pecking away at them. Ugh. Going to try a hybrid this summer called “celebrity”. Had a friend grow them successfully last year. This variety is supposed to be very disease resistant. Hope so. Them maters go well with the peppers!

[murrie]

BTW-love your tag line.